ConvertAnyFile Toolbar
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is ConvertAnyFile?
ConvertAnyFile is a deceptive browser toolbar developed by Mindspark Interactive Network company.
According to the developers, this plug-in allows users to convert various file formats, and also units (for example, distance, temperature, etc.) - "ConvertAnyFile lets you convert files between popular formats. Convert audio, video, images, documents and more right from your browser. ConvertAnyFile is your one stop shop for all your conversion needs."
Some users may believe that ConvertAnyFile is a legitimate and useful toolbar, however, this application is categorized as a browser hijacker and potentially unwanted program (PUP). The main reason for these negative associations is the dubious behavior of ConvertAnyFile.
This toolbar infiltrates the system without users permission, modifies browser settings, and monitors Internet browsing activity.
After infiltrating Internet Explorer, Google Chrome,and Mozilla Firefox, ConvertAnyFile modifies the browser default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL settings by assigning them to the ask.com webpage.
Note that these modifications are made without permission, and furthermore, this toolbar installs browser plug-ins/apps to prevent users from rolling back these changes. Since users are continually redirected to ask.com, the presence of ConvertAnyFile toolbar significantly diminishes the Internet browsing experience.
In addition, this application monitors users' Internet browsing activity and gathers various system information.
Mindspark Interactive Network co-operates with a number of third party companies with whom this information is shared and potentially misused to generate revenue, thereby causing privacy issues. You are strongly advised to eliminate ConvertAnyFile toolbar from your system immediately.
ConvertAnyFile is identical to other toolbars developed by the same company. Although AutoPCBackup, DownSpeedTest, PConverter, and other toolbars offer different features, they have identical behavior. Claims to enhance the Internet browsing experience are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimate and useful software.
Users receive no real value from these plug-ins, since they are designed only to generate revenue by causing unwanted browser redirects (to generate traffic) and collecting personally identifiable details.
How did ConvertAnyFile install on my computer?
Mindspark Interactive Network often distributes its products using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling', which allows them to stealthily install add-ons such as ConvertAnyFile during installation of other (mostly free) software.
Research shows that many users do not pay enough attention when downloading and installing software and are unaware that rogue applications are concealed within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. For this reason, they skip most/all of the download and installation steps, thereby inadvertently installing deceptive apps.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
There are a number of measures you should take to prevent this type of computer infection. Closely analyze each step of the free software download procedure, and ensure that only the chosen application is downloaded.
In addition, installation of downloaded (especially free) software should be performed using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options - this will reveal any third party software listed for installation and allow you to opt-out.
ConvertAnyFile browser hijacker installer set-up:
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Quick menu:
- What is ConvertAnyFile?
- STEP 1. Uninstall ConvertAnyFile application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove ConvertAnyFile redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove ConvertAnyFile browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove ConvertAnyFile homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove ConvertAnyFile redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
ConvertAnyFile browser hijacker removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for “ConvertAnyFile Internet Explorer Toolbar”, select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the ConvertAnyFile website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
ConvertAnyFile toolbar removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "ConvertAnyFile", "Toolbar BHO", and "", select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://home.tb.ask.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Ask Web Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the convertanyfile browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "ConvertAnyFile", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://home.tb.ask.com and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "Ask" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the convertanyfile browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove "ConvertAnyFile".
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://home.tb.ask.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "ask.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with convertanyfile browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the convertanyfile browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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